Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says his small backline can cut West Coast forwards down to size

The Power’s short backline — hurt by the need to use Jackson Trengove in the ruck and Alipate Carlile needing another run in the SANFL — appears a concern against a tall and powerful West Coast attack that is expected to be headlined by Coleman Medallist Josh Kennedy.

But Port coach Ken Hinkley has pointed to how the Eagles last year coped without club champion Eric Mackenzie and fellow key backman Mitch Brown for the season because of serious knee injuries but still made the grand final.

“We’re not an isolated case,’’ Hinkley said referring to the Power’s lack of backline height.

“There are plenty of sides who don’t exactly have the right height to play against opposition (forwards).

“West Coast did it last year for the whole year and you manage what you’ve got to play with and you get the best results from that.

“We’ve done that for the past three or four weeks and we’ve been able to manage. Our backs have been really competitive and they are helping and supporting each other.

“We are pretty comfortable with Jack Hombsch, Tom Jonas, Cam O’Shea, Jasper Pittard, Matthew Broadbent, Darcy (Byrne-Jones), Krak (Nathan Krakouer) and Paul Stewart.

“We’ve got enough defenders to defend against good opposition.’’

Hombsch, at 193cm, will be Port’s tallest defender.

West Coast is expected to have at least three players patrolling the forward line at some stage who are taller.

Kennedy, who is in some doubt because his wife is expecting a baby, is 196cm while resting ruck pair Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett are 201cm and 203cm respectively.

Kennedy’s chief forward sidekick Jack Darling is 191cm.

Hinkley said the decision to not bring regular full back Carlile back into the side after one run in the SANFL was made primarily by the player.

“His touch is just not there,’’ Hinkley said.

“He’s come off a broken wrist (which sidelined him for five matches) and he was the first one to say ‘I need a couple of weeks to make sure I get my touch back’.

“He’s still not totally confident in his wrist, he only had the cast off (last week) and he played on the weekend so he was probably a week ahead of schedule to be honest.

“To his credit he wanted to get back and play and I think that’s good. It means in a week or two he’s going to be ready (for the AFL).

“He’s a senior player, he’s played a lot of football, he’s our full back and we’d like him in the side but we need him in good nick.’’

Hinkley said while he hopes West Coast’s woeful away record (it hasn’t won its past six road games) will “put some doubt in their mind’’ at Adelaide Oval Saturday, Port is planning for the Eagles to bring their A-game.

“Whether that’s in Adelaide or back in Perth we’ve just got to expect their best,’’ he said.

Originally published as Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says his small backline can cut West Coast forwards down to size